Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Ben

• I still can’t understand what has happened.  How can someone, who has never met me before, know who I am?  As I sit on the bus, I can’t seem to take my eyes off the bus driver.  My mind keeps trying to figure it out.  However, the only thing that I can think of is that Kane somehow knew that I may be coming to him, and he showed them a picture of me.  Nothing else explains what is happening.
• I finally tear my eyes away from Gus and look out the window.  My mind is still trying to grasp the events for today, but what I keep jumping to is the fact that I will be seeing Kane in a few hours.  Just the thought of finally getting to see him has me smiling.  I also can’t stop trying to think of all the things that I want to tell him.  There is one thing that I’m positive that I won’t say to him.  No matter what, I’m not going to tell him anything about Mike and that witch.  Oops, I mean Bambi, but I think witch fits her too.
• Suddenly, I can’t wait to tell Beta Malcolm that I have finally found Kane. 
• It didn’t take months like the other trackers, but it only took a few days.  Granted, I have an advantage because I can sense where Kane is at, but I can’t help to think that Alpha Marcus told them not to search too hard for Kane.  However, I can’t prove anything, but it is a gut feeling that I have.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Alpha Marcus even knows that Kane is actually Mike’s true mate.  At this point, nothing would shock me. 
• I glance down at my watch and sigh.  Another hour before I get to see Kane. 
• I stare back out the window and rest my head back on the seat.  It is just a little longer and we will be together again, but I’m not leaving him this time.  Kane should have someone that he can rely on with him.  I’m just hoping that he has someone that is willing to stand beside him and be a good support for him. 
• I don’t know how Kane is going to handle it when I tell him that I don’t have any intention to go back to our pack.  Right now, I think it is more important to be with him and support him, then to go home and be with family.  Plus, he is my best friend.  There is no one other than him as my best friend. 
• The scenery buzzes by as my eyelids get a little heavy.
• ***
• “Ben wake up.  It is time to get off the bus.”
• I slowly open my eyes as Gus nudges my arm.  Oh, I must have fallen asleep.
• I yawn and stretch my arms and legs as I groggily ask, “Where are we?”
• Gus smiles.  “We are at the end of the line.  However, we still have to drive to the pack house.”
• Wait.  Did he just say pack house?  I didn’t think that there are any werewolves in this area of the country.  We were always told that this area is strictly for humans.  I think we have an unspoken agreement or something that keeps werewolves out of this section of the country.
• Confused, I look at Gus.  “I didn’t think that there were any werewolves out here.”
• He chuckles and turns to walk towards the front of the bus as he chimes, “That is exactly what we want everyone to believe.”
• This is so confusing.  What has Kane got himself into?  However, now that I’m awake, I can tell that Kane is really close.  So, I guess I’ll continue to trust Gus.
• I stand up from my seat and stretch once again.  Man, I didn’t think that I could get this stiff from sitting on a bus, but clearly, I’m wrong. 
• I slowly head towards the front and follow Gus off of the bus.  He stops and grabs my bag from the luggage compartment before he heads towards his car.  As we walk across the deserted parking lot, Gus chimes, “This is almost like déjà vu. 
• It was a little over a month ago when Kane was on my bus.  He was tired, so I let him sleep for a while before I finally woke him up to take him to our pack house.”
• He glances at me and then continues, “You know that this wasn’t where he was wanting to go.  He had planned to get off the bus at one of my earlier stops, but he fell asleep.  He had been running so hard and he looked so exhausted that I couldn’t bring myself to send him off without anyone.  It just isn’t safe letting a male omega roam the country.  So, I made a judgement call.  I mind linked with my alpha and explained about Kane.  He immediately told me to bring him to our pack house and that is exactly what I did.”
• Well, that explains a few things.  However, I’m still worried, especially since Kane is in another pack.  What would they do to a male omega?  No.  I can’t think like this.  I have to stay positive.
• Gus adds, “You don’t have to worry about Kane.  Our pack cherishes male omegas.  Our own alpha is a male omega.  Sadly, his alpha mate was killed a while ago in a fight.”
• What?  A male omega is the pack’s alpha.  How can that be?  I thought the pack’s alpha has to be an alpha.
• Gus gently pats my shoulder as we approach his car.  “They will explain everything to you when we get to the pack house.  However, you don’t have to worry about Kane.  Our Alpha Wyatt is taking care of him.  Now, let’s hurry up so we can get there before the meal.”
• Still lost in processing what little information that Gus has given me, I simply nod my head and walk around the car to the passenger side.  Gus puts my bag in the back seat before he climbs into the driver’s seat. 
• The car is quickly engulfed in silence as Gus pulls out of the parking lot and heads down the road.  Once again, I find himself staring out the window.  I still don’t know what to say.  Shoot, I don’t even know what to ask.
• After a few more minutes of silence, Gus chimes, “Ben try not to worry too much.  Kane is being taken care by a lot of people.  Alpha Wyatt has him staying in his section of the house with him.  In addition, Alpha Wyatt has Beta Ford and Lead Warrior Mason teaching him how to fight.”
• What?  Fight?  Why would Kane learn how to fight?  Omegas aren’t strong enough to fight.
• Before I can ask Gus anything, he quickly says, “In our pack, everyone is equal.  So, everyone is taught to fight, but we didn’t force Kane to fight.  He wants to be like our Alpha Wyatt, who is a good fighter but still an omega.  You will understand when you finally get to meet him.”
• Wow.  This pack is different.  Very different.
• I still don’t know if I’ll like them, but I already like the idea that everyone is equal.  That is one thing about my pack that I have hated and that your pack jobs are based on whether you are an alpha, beta or omega.  I fortunate because my parents are able to send me to the university, because Beta Malcolm wants Kane to have a friend with him while Kane is at the university.  If it isn’t for that, I would probably be cooking and cleaning like the other omegas.  The stupid thing is that I can’t even cook.  I burn everything.  Shoot.  I can’t even boil water right.
• I turn towards Gus and ask, “Has Kane been happy since he has been with your pack?”
• Gus smiles and continues to focus on the road.  “Yes.  I think he has been happy, but I’m sure he will be even happier now that you are here.  He has missed you and his family so much.”
• My heart aches hearing that.  I can only imagine what Kane has gone through this past month, and he did it all alone.
• As we continue down the road, Gus tells me everything that Kane has done this last month.  I’m happy that Kane has managed to fit in so well with the pack.  In addition, I couldn’t be happier that there isn’t anyone trying to bully Kane or be mean to him.  Most men in other packs often look down on a male omega.  They usually see them as too weak to do anything useful for the pack besides cook and clean, which is wrong in so many ways.
• That is also part of the reason that Beta Malcolm has forced Kane to take the business program at the university.  I’m not really sure what Beta Malcolm’s reason is for insisting Kane get a business degree, but I do know that Beta Malcolm hopes that Kane wouldn’t be seen as useless with that degree.  However, I, personally, think that Kane would have been able to help out more had he taken the doctor program.  Every pack needs doctors and nurses.  They are a vital part of the pack, especially when there is an attack. 
• After driving for a while, Gus chimes, “Well, I better warn you, so I don’t shock you like Kane was shocked.”
• Oh, no.  I hope it isn’t too bad.  I don’t think that I could handle anything too bad right now. 
• Gus continues, “Our pack house and the other buildings at our home base is rather large.  What are Kane’s exact words?  Oh, yeah.  He calls it a mansion.  He mumbles something about being able to fit all your buildings from your pack into our pack house and still have room for neighboring pack buildings.”
• He softly chuckles.  “Well, I haven’t actually compared our pack house or buildings to other packs, but from what Kane has said, our buildings are much larger than any other pack’s buildings.  I have lived at the pack house all my life, so it is normal to me, but for Kane, it is huge.”
• Well, if Kane said it is a mansion, I can only imagine how big it is.  At least I’ve been given a little warning up front about it. 
• A slowly nod my head.  “Okay.  I’ll try not to be shocked.”
• Gus chuckles again.  “Well, Kane’s mouth nearly hit the ground when he saw it.”
• Oh, now that is interesting.  Kane usually doesn’t get shocked by much, so this place must really be huge.  I can’t wait to see it. 
• When we finally get to the pack house, I quickly understand why Kane was shocked.  This place is freaking enormous.  I have never seen a pack house this big. 
• With my eyes wide open, I can’t seem to take my eyes off of the mansion.  Yes, Kane described it correctly.  Not only is it big, but it is also very beautiful. 
• Various flowers and bushes line the front of the building and wrap around each side of the mansion.  I can’t see it, but I’m positive that the flowers and bushes of every kind and color continue on across the back too.  A beautiful water fountain, in front, is tucked in at the left side of the mansion along with some benches at a short distance from the fountain. 
• I can picture people sitting on the benches and admiring the water fountain.  I wonder if they have fish in the fountain.
• My thoughts are cut off as the car stops and Gus chimes, “Well, we better go in and introduce you to a few of the pack members.  Alpha Wyatt wants to meet you right away, and he wants to introduce you to Beta Ford and Lead Warrior Mason.”
• As my eyes continue to glance around the property, I mumble, “Okay.”